The 16th edition of the Sofia Paper Art Fest, themed “Beyond the Surface,” is scheduled to open on April 28 at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) and run through May 16. The festival is organized by the Amateras Foundation in collaboration with NDK and serves as part of the 23rd Salon of the Arts. The central focus of this year’s event is the exploration of paper not merely as a medium, but as a vehicle for ideas, cultural transformation, memory, and identity.
The international festival aims to showcase the diverse potential of paper within contemporary art. The event will feature large-scale international exhibitions, including the Biennial of Contemporary Paper Art in the West lobby and the 17th annual Amateras Exhibition-Competition in the Marble lobby. A total of 117 artists representing 18 countries are participating in this cultural showcase in Sofia.
The program includes curated exhibitions featuring participants from nations such as Japan, Brazil, Poland, and Taiwan, alongside art tours and meetings with curators. Highlights of the festival include an award ceremony marking the Amateras competition and a special presentation of Japanese calligraphy by Minoru Goto. Furthermore, the festival emphasizes the promotion of contemporary art through the participation of young Bulgarian artists.
The festival has previously received the European Commission’s Innovation Label, solidifying its reputation as an international platform for paper art and cultural exchange. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Sofia Municipality, the National Culture Fund, and various private partners.
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